Steering Column Lock Mechanism Rod Wobble Suppression
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Steering devices with tilt functions often experience wobbling and vibration due to the weight of operation levers, leading to noise and inefficient tilting operations, and existing solutions increase the number of components and assembly time.
Innovation Solution
The steering device incorporates a column unit with specifically designed through-holes and a lock mechanism that includes straight and tapered portions to restrict rod inclination, supported by a slide guide with shock absorption, reducing wobbling and noise while maintaining a reduced component count and assembly time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If a tapered through-hole is formed in the column unit to improve mold-release characteristics, then manufacturing ease is improved, but a gap is formed between the rod and through-hole causing wobbling and vibration
Solution Approach 1:
A sleeve is introduced as an intermediary component between the rod and the tapered through-hole. The sleeve fits within the tapered through-hole and provides a stable, non-tapered bore that securely holds the rod, eliminating gaps and preventing wobbling while allowing the outer through-hole to maintain its tapered shape for easy manufacturing.
2Ease of operation
If the operation lever is attached to the rod, then the tilting function becomes operable, but the weight of the operation lever causes the rod to incline downward creating gaps and wobbling
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve acts as a mediator that supports the rod at multiple points along its length, counteracting the inclination caused by the operation lever's weight. The sleeve's internal structure provides distributed support that maintains the rod's horizontal alignment while still allowing the operation lever to be attached for tilting operation.
3Stability of the object's composition
If a separate sleeve is provided in the through-hole to suppress wobbling, then rod stability is improved, but the number of components and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The sleeve is integrated into the column unit structure, merging two previously separate components (sleeve and column unit) into a single molded part. The tapered through-hole and the sleeve's bore are formed as integrated features of the column unit, reducing the total component count while maintaining the wobbling suppression function.
Data Source
AI summary
A steering device according to an aspect of the present disclosure includes a column unit, a front bracket, a rear bracket, and a lock mechanism. The lock mechanism includes a rod supported by the column unit so as to be movable in a vertical direction in tilt guide holes in an unlocked state, and an operation portion that is fixed to a first side end portion of a rod in a right-left direction and that is used to operate of the rod. The first through-hole includes a first straight portion and a first tapered portion. The second through-hole includes a second straight portion and a second tapered portion.